It goes without saying that there are many reasons to feel anxious in our world today — for yourself, your loved ones, for our community, our nation, and our world. It’s easy to wonder in our times of anxiety how we are going to get through these times.
In Exodus 17, The Israelites have been in the wilderness for several weeks, and the people don’t have enough water. They begin to be afraid that they and their cattle will all die of thirst in the wilderness.
Jesus, in the last days of his life, is in the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus, sitting at the table. Mary takes a pound of “costly perfume made of pure nard,” which was a fragrant, imported oil.
There are controversial parts of the Bible, there are unclear parts of scripture, and there are passages that are difficult to understand. But this one is clear — as clear as Jesus’ words about how we treat the poor.
One of Jesus imperatives to his disciples in the Sermon on the Mount is “Search, and you will find.” (Matthew 7:7, NRSV)
On more than one occasion Jesus told a parable that featured a banquet or a feast. In this parable of the kingdom of God, a man is holding a banquet and the invited guests are too busy to show up — all of them have excuses.
The Psalmist is singing and praising God. In his praise, he remembers the ways in which God speaks to us and the tremendous difference that makes.
Within every moment of deep darkness lies the certainty that the dawn is coming. Most people have felt, at one time or another, that everything seems hopeless.
This is one of the two passages Jesus quotes as the summary of “all the law and the prophets”—“you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Imagine that you are living in Gergesa, situated on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee.